Thomas 'happy' with Portmore Champions League show

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Portmore United players (from left) Eric Edwards, Randee Smith and Jermie Lynch with Howard McIntosh, Portmore United team director at a press briefing at the Jamaica Football Federation headquarters on Monday.<\n>

New Portmore United coach Shavar Thomas is pleased with his team's performance against CD Plaza Amador of Panama in the first leg of the CONCACAF League Round of Sixteen tie last Wednesday night at the National Stadium.

Portmore United edged the Panamanian club 1-0, courtesy of a goal by Jermie Lynch in the 73rd minute. With that advantage, Portmore need to avoid defeat in the away game on August 9. The return game is set at the Estadio Rommel Fern·ndez in Panama City.

Thomas said the club's three national representatives, who were part of the Gold Cup team that lost in the final to USA, were a plus.

"The three Reggae Boyz (Ewan Grandison, Michael Binns, and Ricardo Morris) added to the team vibe and energy. As a former national player myself, I know what that brings to a club," Thomas told STAR Sports yesterday.

"I am very happy with the performance. We never had a long time to prepare, and for the team to put in the shift that they did, it was tremendous. That was a very good team we defeated. They played to detail within a set system, and they have quality players all over the park with good touches on the ball. We have the advantage, and they now have to come at us so we will have to be smart as we expect a tough game in Panama to come," Thomas who took over as coach from Linval Dixon last month, told STAR Sports yesterday.

"The team is confident. We know it is going to be a challenge in Panama, but we are upbeat," he added.

The Portmore club has been runners-up in the last two seasons in the Red Stripe Premier League. They went down 1-2 to Montego Bay United in the 2016 final and also lost by a similar scoreline to Arnett Gardens in last season's final.